The Montreal Canadiens are holding a playoff spot as they navigate the season, prompting a potential shift in their draft strategy. Renaud Lavoie from TVA Sports suggests that rather than offloading their unrestricted free agents, the Canadiens could utilize these players—like David Savard, Joel Armia, and Jake Evans—as internal rentals. With the Canadiens remaining competitive, general manager Kent Hughes may reconsider moving these players for minimal returns such as third or fourth-round picks, especially with their existing surplus of picks from previous drafts. The performance of players like Jake Evans, who is having a career year, is under scrutiny as Hughes aims to secure significant returns if trades do occur. While trades remain a possibility, it seems likely that the Canadiens will prioritize retaining key players to bolster their roster now.

Jake Evans scored the decisive goal late in the third period, leading the Montreal Canadiens to a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. With this win, the Canadiens have shown remarkable resilience, notably winning 13 of their last 17 games.

Evans, assisted by Joel Armia, tallied his 11th goal of the season as the crowd in Bell Centre erupted with excitement. Other key contributions came from rookie standout Juraj Slafkovsky and Alex Newhook, who both found the back of the net. Goaltender Sam Montembeault recorded 33 saves, fortifying the Canadiens' defense throughout the match.

The Lightning initially took the lead with goals from Nikita Kucherov and Jake Guentzel, but the Canadiens quickly countered with two goals in rapid succession to tie the game. Kucherov's point streak reached 10 games, showcasing his consistent offensive prowess.

This victory moves Montreal within a point of Tampa in the Atlantic Division, underscoring the competitive nature of the playoff race. The Canadiens’ comeback ability continues to be a hallmark of their recent success, as seen in their previous game against the New York Rangers. Both teams are now looking ahead to their next challenges: Tampa faces the Chicago Blackhawks while Montreal travels to Detroit.

The Montreal Canadiens secured a 3-1 victory against the Dallas Stars, with Alex Newhook providing the winning goal through a crucial deflection in the third period. Rookie Jakub Dobes was instrumental in the win, making 32 saves and improving his record to 4-0-0, all achieved on the road against teams with winning records.

Newhook's goal, which came after a review concerning the height of his stick, solidified the Canadiens' recent form, now having points in 12 of their last 14 games. Juraj Slafkovsky and Joel Armia also contributed to the scoreline, with Armia sealing the win with an empty-netter. The Stars' Jason Robertson provided the lone goal for Dallas, who have recently struggled after a strong winning streak.

In a thrilling showdown, the Montreal Canadiens edged out the Dallas Stars 3-1, thanks to a pivotal goal from Alex Newhook in the third period. The young star's deflection came after a tense moment that required a video review to confirm the legality of the strike, as he was tangled with Dallas' Wyatt Johnston.

Rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes continued his impressive form, making 32 saves to secure his fourth consecutive victory, all achieved on the road against formidable opponents. Dobes, who was called up from the AHL, has emerged as a reliable backup for Montreal.

Aside from Newhook, Juraj Slafkovsky and Joel Armia contributed to the Canadiens' offensive effort, with Armia sealing the game with an empty-netter in the final minutes. The Canadiens have now garnered points in 12 of their last 14 games.

Jason Robertson scored the lone goal for the Stars, who are now facing a challenge after a recent seven-game winning streak came to an end. Goaltender Jake Oettinger, who had his own six-game winning streak halted, made 21 saves during the match.

In a gripping match on Thursday night, the Montreal Canadiens edged out the Dallas Stars 3-1, highlighted by Alex Newhook's pivotal deflection that broke a tie in the third period. Rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes showcased his talent with an impressive 32 saves, improving his record to 4-0-0, all achieved on the road against teams with winning records.

The Canadiens' victory was aided by goals from Juraj Slafkovsky and Joel Armia, with Armia sealing the win with an empty-net goal. Jason Robertson scored for the Stars, who struggled to maintain their early lead as Slafkovsky quickly equalized, ending a 10-game scoring drought.